Venus Williams
ahead to play Maria Sharapova

After a close call,
Venus Williams will play Maria Sharapova in the fourth round of
the 2007 Wimbledon.

Venus
Williams was close to an early exit on Monday, when Akiko
Morigami, her unseeded Japanese opponent, served for the match
at 5-3 in the final set. In a match previously suspended on
Saturday, Williams managed to save her place in the tournament
as she broke back and went on to win 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 against
Morigami. Venus won the first set, but her Japanese contender
was leading 4-1 when the match was postponed due to heavy rain
at the Wimbledon on Saturday.

Venus Williams was encountering all
sorts of problems with her serve on Saturday and she came up
with four double faults in her opening service game, after the
match was resumed two days later. On Monday Venus Williams
almost handed the game over to Akiko, when the Japanese tennis
player and 71st in the world had the chance to serve for the
game. This came as a wake up call for Williams and she unloaded
a series of brutal ground strokes to break straight back and win
the match.

Venus Williams will next face Maria
Sharapova in the fourth round of the 2007 Wimbledon.